Town Issues a Mandatory Evacuation of Mobile Homes and Campgrounds; Establishes Emergency Shelter

The Town of Coventry Emergency Management Agency (EMA) in cooperation with all Emergency Response Agencies and Human Services Agencies of the Town of Coventry, continue to prepare for Hurricane Irene.

The Emergency Management Director, Chief Bryan Volpe of the , wants all residents and businesses in the Town of Coventry to be assured that “the Coventry Emergency Response plans are being implemented so that the Town is adequately equipped to handle the impending hurricane.”

Currently the Coventry EMA is monitoring the storm and working hand-in-hand with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to gather information needed to make critical storm related decisions.

At 1:10 p.m. today, Town Council President, Gary Cote, signed a for the Town of Coventry. The Coventry Emergency Operations Center is imposing a mandatory evacuation of all Campgrounds and Mobile Home Parks in the Town of Coventry that are expected to be completed by 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 27th. This mandatory evacuation is in preparation for the severe rain and wind expected from Hurricane Irene which is expected to hit the area on Sunday.

Campers and residential mobile homes are susceptible to heavy damage from storms with moderate wind speeds and high gusting wind speeds. The conditions expected from this hurricane will exceed conditions that have previously been known to cause damage to mobile home parks and campgrounds.

To accommodate anyone that may need shelter, the Coventry EOC will be opening a shelter at the at 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 27. The Coventry High School is located at 40 Reservoir Rd. The preferred response would be to stay with family or friends, however, anyone seeking shelter is encouraged to make use of the High School facility.

The shelter will NOT be able to accommodate family pets, so please make alternative arrangements. As a last resort, the Coventry Animal Shelter will be able to accommodate a small number of pets, which will be subject to a first come, first serve basis due to space limitations. Coventry Animal Control can be reached at 822-9106.

For evacuation and shelter information, call the EOC's 24-hour informational hotline at 822-6215.

Hurricane Irene is expected to pass over Rhode Island sometime Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening but we will feel its effects earlier in the day. Weather forecasts are predicting severe weather situations that may prevent a response from emergency services. If this occurs, emergency services may not be able to respond to calls for service until the storm intensity decreases and conditions improve. Please take this into consideration as services will be burdened during and after this event. We thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. School is canceled in Coventry on Monday.
2. There will be no garbage pick-up in Coventry on Monday.
3. A parking ban will be effect beginning at 12 p.m. Saturday until further notice.

The Coventry EMA is making plans for possible food and water distribution after the storm; sandbags for residents that may need such for flooding; debris cleanup for after the storm; opening of roads that may become blocked by debris; and restoration of utilities should they be lost during the storm.

For more information regarding the planning by Coventry EMA you may go to the Town of Coventry website http://www.town.coventry.ri.us/.

Additional information may be obtained from the Rhode Island EMA at their website http://www.riema.ri.gov/whatsnew/.